U.S. patent application number 15/620127 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-14 for laundry washing machine equipped with a treating agents dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag. The applicant listed for this patent is Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag. Invention is credited to Maurizio Del Pos, Daniele Favaro.
Application Number | 20170356119 15/620127 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56120992 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170356119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Favaro; Daniele ; et
al. |
December 14, 2017 |
Laundry Washing Machine Equipped with a Treating Agents
Dispenser
Abstract
A laundry washing machine (1) connectable to a water mains (E,
E') has a cabinet (2) supporting a washing tub (3) external to a
rotatable washing drum (4) suited to receive laundry and a treating
agents dispenser (20) connectable to the water mains (E, E') by
means of at least one supply valve (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e). The
treating agents dispenser (20) has a drawer (22) and a supporting
structure (21) on which the drawer (22) can slide along a sliding
axis (S). A water distributor (35) includes at least one inlet
connector (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e) adapted to connect the at least
one supply valve (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e) to at least one water
conveying line (120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e) for conveying water
to a reservoir (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) or to the washing tub (3). The
at least one inlet connector (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e) extends
along a main axis (X) which is inclined with respect to the sliding
axis (S).
Inventors: |
Favaro; Daniele;
(Pramaggiore (VE), IT) ; Del Pos; Maurizio;
(Pordenone (PN), IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Electrolux Appliances
Aktiebolag
Stockholm
SE
|
Family ID: |
56120992 |
Appl. No.: |
15/620127 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/04 20130101;
D06F 37/304 20130101; D06F 39/022 20130101; A47B 88/90 20170101;
A47B 2210/17 20130101; D06F 39/028 20130101; D06F 39/12 20130101;
D06F 37/22 20130101; D06F 39/088 20130101; D06F 37/266 20130101;
D06F 34/28 20200201; D06F 39/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/02 20060101
D06F039/02; D06F 37/30 20060101 D06F037/30; D06F 37/04 20060101
D06F037/04; A47B 88/90 20060101 A47B088/90; D06F 39/12 20060101
D06F039/12; D06F 37/26 20060101 D06F037/26; D06F 39/00 20060101
D06F039/00; D06F 37/22 20060101 D06F037/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 14, 2016 |
EP |
16174317.4 |
Claims
1. A laundry washing machine connectable to a water mains
comprising a cabinet supporting a washing tub enclosing a rotatable
washing drum suited to receive laundry and a treating agents
dispenser connectable to said water mains by means of at least one
supply valve, said treating agents dispenser comprising: a drawer
and a supporting structure on which said drawer can slide along a
sliding axis; a water distributor comprising at least one water
conveying line for conveying water to a reservoir or to said
washing tub and at least one inlet connector, said at least one
inlet connector being adapted to connect said at least one supply
valve to said at least one water conveying line; wherein said at
least one inlet connector extends along a main axis which is
inclined with respect to said sliding axis.
2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises
a compartment of said drawer suitable to receive an agent for
treating laundry.
3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises
a container suitable to receive a water softening product to be
used in a water softening device of the laundry washing
machine.
4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said container is
supported by said drawer or by said supporting structure or is
external to said treating agents dispenser.
5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said main axis is
perpendicular with respect to said sliding axis.
6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said main axis is
arranged in a vertical plane or substantially vertical plane, when
said treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational
position.
7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said sliding axis is
arranged in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, when
said treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational
position.
8. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet
connector is integrally made with said water distributor.
9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said water distributor
comprises a first part and a second part structured for being
reciprocally coupled.
10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said at least one inlet
connector is integrally made with one of said first or second parts
of said water distributor.
11. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet
connector is coupled to said water distributor.
12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein said at least one
inlet connector is part of a unit sandwiched between said first and
second parts.
13. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe
fluidly connecting said at least one inlet connector to said at
least one supply valve.
14. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said drawer is movable
in a withdrawal direction in order to extract said drawer from said
supporting structure and is movable in a pushing direction in order
to insert said drawer into said supporting structure.
15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein said withdrawal
direction and/or said pushing direction is parallel to said sliding
axis.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to European Application No.
16174317.4 filed Jun. 14, 2016, the content of which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention concerns the field of laundry washing
techniques.
[0003] In particular, the present invention refers to a treating
agents dispenser in a laundry washing machine.
[0004] Nowadays the use of laundry washing machines, both "simple"
laundry washing machines (i.e. laundry washing machines which can
only wash and rinse laundry) and laundry washing-drying machines
(i.e. laundry washing machines which can also dry laundry), is
widespread. In the present description the term "laundry washing
machine" will refer to both simple laundry washing machine and
laundry washing-drying machine.
[0005] Laundry washing machines generally comprise an external
casing, or cabinet, provided with a washing tub which contains a
rotatable perforated drum where the laundry is placed. A
loading/unloading door ensures access to the drum. Laundry washing
machines typically comprise a treating agents dispenser arranged to
the frontal side wall of the cabinet, opportunely in an upper
region of the latter, positioned above the tub for the introduction
of water and treating agents (i.e. detergent, softener, rinse
conditioner, etc.) into the tub.
[0006] Known treating agents dispensers comprise one or more
reservoirs, or compartments, adapted to be filled with at least one
treating agent and one or more respective water conveying lines for
conveying water to the compartments. Water conveying lines are
typically realized in a water distributor placed above the
compartments. The water distributor is opportunely shaped to define
channels provided with apertures allowing water coming from the
water main to fall down in the underlying compartments.
[0007] Known treating agents dispensers are advantageously
connectable to a water source via dedicated controllable supply
valves. Typically, the water source adducts cold water to the
treating agents dispenser. Other known treating agents dispensers
are connectable to a warm or hot water source.
[0008] The cabinet of the laundry washing machine typically has at
the rear an access for allowing a connection to the water/s
source/s and said supply valves are arranged closed to, or fixed
to, the inner side of the rear wall of the cabinet. One or more
connecting pipes are then utilized to connect at one end said
valves and at an opposite end the water distributor of the treating
agents dispenser. For this purpose, water distributors of known
type are provided with horizontal inlet connectors rearwardly
projecting from the body of the water distributor which are
connected to said opposite ends of the connecting pipes.
Furthermore, fastening means, for example a clamp, are used to
secure ends of the pipes and valves and/or inlets of the water
distributor tightly together. However, the system for supplying
water above described belonging to the known art poses some
drawbacks.
[0009] A first drawback posed by the known technique is constituted
by the fact that the system for supplying water is cumbersome. In
fact, said arrangement comprises said treating agents dispenser,
horizontal inlet connectors rearwardly projecting from the water
distributor, connecting pipe/s and valves wherein all these
elements are substantially aligned from the front side of the
cabinet to the rear side of the same. In particular, the connection
system between valves and the water distributor comprising
connecting pipe/s requires a relevant space at the rear side of the
laundry washing machine. This firstly negatively affects the size
of the laundry washing machine, in particular the distance between
the front side and the rear side of the laundry washing machine.
This also negatively affects manufacturing costs of the treating
agents dispenser and/or of the drawer of the laundry washing
machine. On the other hand, a prefixed distance between the front
side and the rear side of the laundry washing machine, for example
size required by standards, limits the size of the treating agents
dispenser and in particular of the drawer.
SUMMARY OF SELECTED INVENTIVE ASPECTS
[0010] The main object of the present invention is therefore to
overcome said drawbacks. In particular, it is one object of the
present invention to provide a laundry washing machine having a
treating agents dispenser with reduced size compared to laundry
washing machines of known type.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a laundry
washing machine having a higher capacity of the drawer compared to
laundry washing machines of known type of the same size.
[0012] It is a further object of the invention to provide a laundry
washing machine having a treating agents dispenser with reduced
complexity compared to laundry washing machines of known type.
[0013] The applicant has found that by providing a laundry washing
machine having a treating agents dispenser comprising a supporting
structure on which a drawer can slide along a sliding axis and a
water distributor for conveying water to a reservoir or to a
washing tub wherein the water distributor comprises an inlet
connector which extends along a main axis which is inclined with
respect to the sliding axis, it is possible to reduce the size of
the treating agents dispenser and/or of the laundry washing
machines compared to known technique.
[0014] The present invention relates, therefore, to a laundry
washing machine connectable to a water mains comprising a cabinet
supporting a washing tub enclosing a rotatable washing drum suited
to receive laundry and a treating agents dispenser connectable to
said water mains by means of at least one supply valve, said
treating agents dispenser comprising: [0015] a drawer and a
supporting structure on which said drawer can slide along a sliding
axis; [0016] a water distributor comprising at least one water
conveying line for conveying water to a reservoir or to said
washing tub and at least one inlet connector, said at least one
inlet connector being adapted to connect said at least one supply
valve to said at least one water conveying line;
[0017] wherein said at least one inlet connector extends along a
main axis which is inclined with respect to said sliding axis.
[0018] Advantageously, the interspace between the treating agents
dispenser and the supply valve can be minimize.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
reservoir comprises a compartment of the drawer suitable to receive
an agent for treating laundry.
[0020] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the reservoir comprises a container suitable to receive a water
softening product to be used in a water softening device of the
laundry washing machine.
[0021] Preferably, the container is supported by the drawer or by
the supporting structure or is external to the treating agents
dispenser.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main axis is
perpendicular with respect to the sliding axis.
[0023] Preferably, the main axis is arranged in a vertical plane or
substantially vertical plane, when the treating agents dispenser is
mounted in an operational position.
[0024] Preferably, the sliding axis is arranged in a horizontal or
substantially horizontal plane, when the treating agents dispenser
is mounted in an operational position.
[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
at least one inlet connector is integrally made with the water
distributor.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water
distributor comprises a first part and a second part structured for
being reciprocally coupled.
[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
at least one inlet connector is integrally made with one of said
first or second parts of said water distributor.
[0028] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
said at least one inlet connector is coupled to said water
distributor.
[0029] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the said
at least one inlet connector is part of a unit sandwiched between
said first and second parts.
[0030] Preferably, the machine further comprises a pipe fluidly
connecting said at least one inlet connector to said at least one
supply valve.
[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
at least one supply valve is arranged spaced apart from the free
end of said at least one inlet connector along the main axis.
[0032] Preferably, said at least one supply valve is arranged
vertically below the free end of said at least one inlet
connector.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water
distributor is placed above the drawer when the treating agents
dispenser is mounted in an operational position.
[0034] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
drawer comprises one ore compartments for receiving an agent for
treating laundry.
[0035] Preferably, the machine further comprises a supply pipe
fluidly connecting the treating agents dispenser and the washing
tub.
[0036] Preferably, the drawer is movable in a withdrawal direction
in order to extract the drawer from said supporting structure and
is movable in a pushing direction in order to insert the drawer
into the supporting structure.
[0037] Preferably, the withdrawal direction and/or the pushing
direction is parallel to the sliding axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention,
provided with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings,
corresponding characteristics and/or components are identified by
the same reference numbers. In such drawings:
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a laundry washing machine
equipped with a treating agents dispenser with the drawer in its
opened loading position according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 shows the laundry washing machine of FIG. 1 with the
front side wall and the upper side wall removed therefrom;
[0041] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective rear view of the laundry
washing machine of FIG. 2 with the drawer in its closed
position;
[0042] FIG. 4 shows some elements of FIG. 3 isolated from the
rest;
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a plan top view of FIG. 4;
[0044] FIG. 6 shows an element of FIG. 4 isolated from the
rest;
[0045] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of FIG. 6;
[0046] FIG. 8 shows a plan upper view of a particular of FIG.
7;
[0047] FIG. 9 shows a lateral side view of FIG. 7;
[0048] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of FIG. 8 sectioned along
line X.degree.-X.degree.;
[0049] FIG. 11 shows a further preferred embodiment in a view
similar to FIG. 6;
[0050] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of FIG. 11;
[0051] FIG. 13 shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0052] The present invention has proved to be particularly
advantageous when applied to laundry washing machines, as described
below. It should in any case be underlined that the present
invention is not limited to laundry washing machines. On the
contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied to
laundry washing-drying machines (i.e. laundry washing machines
which can also dry laundry). In the present description, therefore,
the term "laundry washing machine" will refer to both simple
laundry washing machine and laundry washing-drying machine.
[0053] A laundry washing machine 1 equipped with a treating agents
dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.
[0054] The laundry washing machine 1 comprises an external casing
or cabinet 2, in which a washing tub 3 is provided that contains a
perforated washing drum 4 where the laundry to be treated can be
loaded. The cabinet 2 comprises a vertical front side wall 2a, a
vertical rear side wall 2b, two vertical lateral side walls 2c, 2d
and an upper side wall 2e. The cabinet 2 is provided with a
loading/unloading door 8 which allows access to the drum 4. The tub
3 is preferably suspended in a floating manner inside the cabinet
2, advantageously by means of a number of coil springs and
shock-absorbers 17.
[0055] The drum 4 is advantageously rotated by an electric motor
(not shown) which preferably transmits the rotating motion to the
shaft of the drum 4, advantageously by means of a belt/pulley
system (not shown). In a different embodiment of the invention, the
motor can be directly associated with the shaft of the drum 4.
[0056] The drum 4 is advantageously provided with holes which allow
the liquid flowing therethrough. Said holes are typically and
preferably homogeneously distributed on the cylindrical side wall
of the drum 4.
[0057] The tub 3 is preferably connected to the cabinet 2 by means
of an elastic bellows 7, or gasket. The bellows 7 is preferably
S-shaped.
[0058] Laundry washing machine 1 advantageously comprises a control
unit (not shown), connected to the various parts of the laundry
washing machine 1 in order to ensure its operation. Laundry washing
machine 1 preferably comprises an interface unit 16, connected to
the control unit, accessible to the user and by means of which the
user may select and set the washing parameters, like for example a
desired washing program. Usually, other parameters can optionally
be set by the user, for example the washing temperature, the
spinning speed, etc. The interface unit 16 preferably comprises a
display 16a which displays machine working conditions.
[0059] The unit interface 16 then preferably comprises one or more
selector devices which allow to select the appropriate washing
program and/or to set other parameters. For example, the selector
devices may comprise a selector 16b (a rotary knob) which
advantageously allows to select the appropriate washing program.
The selector devices may then preferably comprise push buttons.
[0060] The laundry washing machine 1 advantageously comprises a
treating agents dispenser 20 to supply treating agents into the tub
3 during a washing cycle. Treating agents may comprise, for
example, detergents, rinse additives, fabric softeners or fabric
conditioners, waterproofing agents, fabric enhancers, rinse
sanitization additives, chlorine-based additives, etc.
[0061] Advantageously, the treating agents dispenser 20 comprises a
supporting structure 21, connected to the cabinet 2, internally to
the latter, preferably by suitable fixing means, comprising, for
example, screws or rivets, not illustrated, or also glue, or
welding. Preferably, the supporting structure 21 comprises a
housing, more preferably a box-shaped housing 21.
[0062] In the enclosed Figures, the housing 21 is advantageously
substantially parallelepiped, and it is connected to the frontal
side wall 2a of the cabinet 2, opportunely in an upper region of
the latter, positioned above the tub 3. The housing 21 contains a
removable drawer 22 which can be extracted from the housing 21,
such as to protrude from the cabinet 2 in an opened position, as
illustrated for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, or can be fully inserted
into the housing 21 in a closed position, as illustrated for
example in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
[0063] The drawer 22 preferably comprises a front panel 15 with a
handle by means of which the drawer 22 can be moved from the closed
position to an opened position and, vice-versa, can be moved from
an opened position to the closed position. For simplicity's sake,
the front panel 15 has been removed in FIG. 2.
[0064] The movement of the drawer 22 takes place along a sliding
axis S and the drawer 22 can move along a withdrawal direction W
when the drawer 22 is being opened and along a push direction P
when the drawer 22 is being closed. The withdrawal direction W and
the push direction P are preferably parallel to the sliding axis S.
The movement of the drawer 22 preferably takes place on a
horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane, i.e. the sliding
axis S lies on a horizontal, or substantially horizontal,
plane.
[0065] The drawer 22 is preferably provided with one or more
reservoirs 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, or compartments, adapted to be
filled with treating agents. In the embodiment illustrated in the
Figures, there are four compartments, 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d. In
different embodiments, not illustrated, the number of compartments
may be different, according to the desired type and number of
treating agents which are used in the particular model of laundry
washing machine.
[0066] The first compartment 23a is preferably adapted for
receiving a powder detergent; the second compartment 23b is
preferably adapted for receiving a quantity of liquid detergent;
the third compartment 23c is preferably adapted for receiving
bleach; the fourth compartment 23d is preferably adapted for
receiving a softener. In different embodiments, other treating
agents may be used, such as fabric conditioners, waterproofing
agents, fabric enhancers, rinse sanitization additives,
chlorine-based additives, etc.
[0067] The compartments 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d are fluidly connected
to the bottom of the housing 21, preferably to the rear portion of
this bottom, in which an outlet port (not shown) is preferably
provided. The outlet port is adapted to allow the flowing of a
liquid into a supply pipe (not shown) fluidly connecting the
treating agents dispenser 20 and the tub 3.
[0068] It is underlined that in the present application saying that
a first component is "fluidly connected" to a second component
means that a fluid can flow from the first component to the second
component and vice versa.
[0069] The first compartment 23a of the drawer 22 is fluidly
connected to the bottom of the housing 21 through an aperture 26
defined at the rear of the first compartment 23a. The aperture 26
is adapted to allow the flowing of a liquid into the supply pipe
fluidly connecting the treating agents dispenser 20 and the tub 3.
The other compartments 23b, 23c and 23d of the drawer 22 are
preferably fluidly connected to the bottom of the housing 21
through respective siphons.
[0070] The treating agents dispenser 20 further comprises a water
distributor 35, associated to the housing 21 and placed above the
drawer 22 in such a way to allow the flowing of water to one or
more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. The water distributor
35 comprises one or more water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c,
120d, 120e, as illustrated in FIG. 8, adapted for selectively
conveying water to one or more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c,
23d.
[0071] In the preferred embodiment herewith illustrated and
described, there are five water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c,
120d, 120e. The water conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e
are opportunely shaped to create channels 70 adapted for conveying
water to one or more of said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d of the
drawer 22 when the latter is placed in its closed operative
position.
[0072] To this purpose, the channels 70 are provided with outlets
29 facing the underlying compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d that allow
the passage of the water from the water distributor 35 to the
underlying compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. The water conveying
lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e comprise respective inlets 121a,
121b, 121c, 121d, 121e through which water may flow. Inlets 121a,
121b, 121c, 121d, 121e are preferably arranged close to the rear
side 39 of the distributor 35. In the preferred embodiment herewith
illustrated and described, there are five water conveying lines
120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e and six channels 70. In different
embodiments, the number and/or the shape of the water conveying
lines and/or of the channels could be different according, in
particular, to the number of compartments of the drawer.
[0073] The water distributor 35 preferably comprises a lower part
35a and an upper closing part 35b structured for being reciprocally
coupled to form the water distributor 35. The two parts 35a, 35b
are preferably coupled by welding and/or glueing and/or joint. The
water distributor 35 preferably has a substantially flattened
configuration. The water distributor 35 preferably extends along
the sliding axis S and preferably lies in the horizontal, or
substantially horizontal, plane when the treating agents dispenser
20 is mounted in an operational position.
[0074] The water distributor 35 is apt to be connected to a first
external water source E which could comprise, for example, the
plumbing of the building in which the laundry washing machine 1 is
installed. The first water source E is preferably a source for the
adduction of cold water. In the embodiment illustrated in the
enclosed Figures the water distributor 35 is further apt to be
connected to a second external water source E'. The second water
source E' is preferably a source of warm or hot water. The second
water source E' can be fed with warm or hot water obtained, for
example, by a solar thermal collector.
[0075] The laundry washing machine 1 is therefore provided with a
first inlet duct 7a and a second inlet duct 7b for the hydraulic
connection to the first water source E and the second water source
E', respectively. To this purpose, the rear side wall 2b of the
cabinet 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3, preferably comprises a first
aperture 11 which receives the first inlet duct 7a and a second
aperture 12 which receives the second inlet duct 7b. The first and
second inlet ducts 7a, 7b are preferably associated to a valves
assembly 40.
[0076] The valves assembly 40 preferably comprises five
controllable valves 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d and 40e, preferably of the
electromagnetic type, opportunely controlled by the control unit.
Preferably, first, second, fourth and fifth controllable valves
40a, 40b, 40d and 40e are fluidly connected to the first inlet duct
7a and the third controllable valve 40c is fluidly connected to the
second inlet duct 7b.
[0077] The valves assembly 40 allows adduction of cold and/or hot
water from the water sources E, E' to the conveying lines 120a,
120b, 120c, 120d, 120e of the distributor 35, as further described
later. The valves assembly 40 is preferably fixedly associated to
the cabinet 2. Preferably the valves assembly 40 is fixedly
associated to the inner side of the vertical rear side wall 2b.
[0078] According to an aspect of the invention, the water
distributor 35 comprises one or more inlet connectors 36a, 36b,
36c, 36d and 36e fluidly connected to said one or more water
conveying lines 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e and the respective
inlets 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d, 121e. Inlet connectors 36a, 36b,
36c, 36d and 36e are opportunely connected to the valves assembly
40 through respective pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and 34e. Preferably,
the first inlet connector 36a is connected through the first pipe
34a to the first controllable valve 40a, the second inlet connector
36b is connected through the second pipe 34b to the second
controllable valve 40b, the third inlet connector 36c is connected
through the third pipe 34c to the third controllable valve 40c, the
fourth inlet connector 36d is connected through the fourth pipe 34d
to the fourth controllable valve 40d and the fifth inlet connector
36e is connected through the fifth pipe 34e to the fifth
controllable valve 40e.
[0079] Cold and/or hot/warm water is conveyed to one or more of
said compartments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d of the drawer 22 by
selectively activating one or more of the valves 40a, 40b, 40c,
40d, 40e and making the water flow through the respective pipe 34a,
34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and water conveying line 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d,
120e up to the outlets 29. In other preferred embodiments, not
illustrated, in the drawer there can be more than four
compartments, and in the water distributor there can be more than
six channels, each one fluidly communicating with a different
region of the water distributor which is positioned in such a way
to be placed above a different compartment of the drawer when the
latter is placed in its closed operative position; also in this
case, by acting on the controllable valves, it is possible to
selectively feed a desired channel with water coming from the water
source.
[0080] In further embodiments, not illustrated, in the drawer there
can be less than four compartments, even just one, and in the water
distributor there can be less than six channels, each one fluidly
communicating with a different region of the water distributor
which is positioned in such a way to be placed above a different
compartment of the drawer when the latter is placed in its closed
operative position; also in this case, by acting on the
controllable valves, it is possible to selectively feed a desired
channel with water coming from the water source.
[0081] According to an aspect of the invention, the inlet
connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e preferably each comprises a
projecting body 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e extending along a main
axis X which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis S. More
preferably, the projecting body 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e
extends downwardly and preferably along a main axis X which is
perpendicular with respect to the sliding axis S. Preferably, the
main axis X lies in the vertical, or substantially vertical, plane
when the treating agents dispenser 20 is mounted in an operational
position. More preferably, the main axis X is perpendicular to the
horizontal plane when the treating agents dispenser 20 is mounted
in an operational position and the water distributor 35 lies in the
horizontal plane.
[0082] The projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the
inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are preferably
cylindrically shaped. This enhances connection of the pipes 34a,
34b, 34c, 36d, 34e to the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e.
More preferably, the projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e
of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e comprises an
annular projecting rib 137a. This further enhances connection of
the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 36d, 34e to the inlet connectors 36a, 36b,
36c, 36d, 36e.
[0083] In preferred embodiments, connection of the pipes 34a, 34b,
34c, 36d, 34e to the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e
comprises fastening means, for example clamps. Clamps preferably
tighten ends of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 36d, 34e around the
projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the inlet
connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e. Preferably, the valves assembly
40 is arranged vertically below the water distributor 35, more
preferably just below the free ends of the inlet connectors 36a,
36b, 36c, 36d, 36e. More generally, the valves assembly 40 is
arranged spaced apart from the free ends of the inlet connectors
36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e along the main axis X. Such arrangement
allows to minimize the interspace between the treating agents
dispenser 20 and the valves assembly 40 and allows the assembly of
the treating agents dispenser 20 closer to the valves assembly 40
compared to known systems.
[0084] Advantageously, the size of the laundry washing machine 1,
for example the distance between the front side wall 2a and the
rear side wall 2b, may be reduced compared to known systems. On the
other hand, while maintaining the same external size of the laundry
washing machine 1, it is possible to increase the size of the
treating agents dispensers 20, in particular of the drawer 22,
compared to known systems. This helps to adopt a better design
solution for the treating agents dispensers 20 and/or for the
drawer 22. Said arrangement, furthermore, allows to minimize the
length of the pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and therefore to reduce
the complexity of the laundry washing machine 1.
[0085] Pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e substantially comprise short
L-shaped pipes portion. Pipes 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e preferably
comprise flexible pipes, more preferably plastic flexible
pipes.
[0086] Advantageously, the arrangement according to the invention
allows to reduce costs of production and assembly time of the pipes
and/or of the treating agents dispensers 20. Furthermore,
arrangement of the inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e
perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the distributor 35
facilitates the manufacturing process of the distributor 35, in
particular when a molding process is involved.
[0087] The inlet connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are preferably
integrally made with the water distributor 35, more preferably
integrally made with the lower part 35a of the water distributor
35. The water distributor 35 and/or the inlet connectors 36a, 36b,
36c, 36d, 36e are preferably made of Polypropylene (PP).
[0088] In the preferred embodiment above illustrated and described,
the projecting bodies 136a, 136b, 136c, 136d, 136e of the inlet
connectors 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e are parallel one to the other
and extend along the main axis X. In different preferred
embodiments, inlet connectors may extend along different axes one
to the other and each extending along a respective axis which is
preferably inclined with respect to the sliding axis S.
[0089] FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate a further embodiment of a water
distributor 235 of a treating agents dispenser according to the
present invention. The water distributor 235 comprises three water
conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c adapted for selectively conveying
water to one or more of the compartments of a drawer. The water
conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c are opportunely shaped to create
channels adapted for conveying water to one or more of said
compartments of the drawer when the latter is placed in its closed
operative position. The channels are provided with outlets facing
the underlying compartments that allow the passage of the water
from the water distributor 235 to the underlying compartments.
[0090] The water distributor 235 preferably comprises a lower part
235a and an upper closing part 235b structured for being
reciprocally coupled to form the water distributor 235. The two
parts 235a, 235b are preferably coupled by welding and/or glueing
and/or joint. The water distributor 235 preferably has a
substantially flattened configuration. The water distributor 235
preferably extends along the sliding axis S and preferably lies in
the horizontal, or substantially horizontal, plane when the
treating agents dispenser is mounted in an operational
position.
[0091] According to the invention, the water distributor 235
comprises three inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c fluidly connected
to said water conveying lines 320a, 320b, 320c.
[0092] According to an aspect of the invention, the inlet
connectors 436a, 436b, 436c, preferably each comprises a projecting
body 536a, 536b, 536c extending along a respective axis X, X, X1
which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis S. More
preferably, the projecting bodies 536a, 536b of the first two inlet
connectors 436a, 436b extend downwardly and preferably along a main
axis X which is perpendicular with respect to the sliding axis S.
More preferably, the projecting body 536c of the third inlet
connector 436c extends downwardly and preferably along an axis X1
which is inclined with respect to the sliding axis S.
[0093] Preferably, the axes X, X1 lie in the vertical, or
substantially vertical, plane when the treating agents dispenser is
mounted in an operational position. More preferably, the axes X, X1
are perpendicular to the horizontal plane when the treating agents
dispenser is mounted in an operational position and the water
distributor 235 lies in the horizontal plane.
[0094] According to an aspect of the present embodiment, the inlet
connectors 436a, 436b, 436c are integrally made as a separate unit
500 which is coupled to the water distributor 235. Preferably, the
unit 500 is sandwiched between the two parts 235a, 235b of the
water distributor 235. The unit 500 preferably then comprises
interconnecting portion 550a, 550b, 550c which fluidly connect the
inlet connectors 436a, 436b, 436c to the water conveying lines
320a, 320b, 320c. The interconnecting portion 550a, 550b, 550c are
preferably integrally made with the inlet connectors 436a, 436b,
436c. The unit 500 is preferably arranged close to the rear side
239 of the distributor 235. This second embodiment achieves all the
advantages above described for the previous embodiment.
[0095] It has thus been shown that embodiments of the invention
allow the stated objects to be achieved. In particular it is
possible to realize a laundry washing machine having a treating
agents dispenser with reduced size compared to laundry washing
machines of known type.
[0096] It is underlined that the laundry washing machines
illustrated in the enclosed figures are of the front-loading type;
however it is clear that the system according to the invention can
be applied as well to a top-loading washing machine, substantially
without any modification.
[0097] While the present invention has been described with
reference to water conveying lines adapted for conveying water to
one or more compartments of the drawer, it should be noted that the
present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment but
can be extended to other embodiments. In a different embodiment,
for example, a water conveying line of the water distributor may be
opportunely shaped to define a by-pass line. The by-pass line
preferably allows the flowing of water into the tub without
entering the compartments of the drawer.
[0098] In a further different embodiment, for example, a water
conveying line of the water distributor may be opportunely shaped
to preferably allow the flowing of water to a reservoir/container
of a water softening device of the laundry washing machine. The
water softening device advantageously removes calcium, magnesium
and/or certain other metal cations in hard water before it reaches
the compartments of the water distributor and/or before it is
conveyed directly into the tub. The water softening device
advantageously comprises water softening products, such as salt,
introduced into the reservoir for regenerate the softener agents
provided in a further reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the
container for the water softening products is preferably supported
by the drawer. In further preferred embodiments, the container for
the water softening products may be preferably supported by the
supporting structure of the treating agent dispenser. In other
preferred embodiments, the container for the water softening
products may be external to the treating agents dispenser.
[0099] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular embodiments shown in the figures, it
should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the
specific embodiments illustrated and described herein; on the
contrary, further variants of the embodiments described herein fall
within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the
claims.
* * * * *